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Are illusory visual phantoms seen by the motion system: Investigations utilizing the motion aftereffect
Loïc Daumail1,2, Randolph Blake1, Frank Tong1,3
1Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States.
Research Square
|April 29, 2025
Summary
Visual phantoms create illusory motion perception. This study found that while phantom perception enhances motion aftereffects (MAE), low-level motion adaptation is the primary driver of MAEs in the gap region.
Area of Science:
- Visual perception
- Neuroscience
- Psychophysics
Background:
- Motion perception is constructive, as shown by visual phantom illusions.
- Visual phantoms are perceived drifting stripes in a gap between inducing gratings.
- Previous studies suggest phantom-inducing gratings can elicit motion aftereffects (MAE) in the gap.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if MAEs in the gap region are caused by the perception of visual phantoms themselves.
- To compare the strength of MAEs elicited by phantom-inducing gratings versus control stimuli.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated MAEs using phantom-inducing gratings and matched control stimuli.
- Manipulated inducer gratings' luminance: darkest portion matched background for vivid phantoms, mean luminance matched background for controls.
- Measured MAE strength and modulation by physical contrast.
Main Results:
- Both phantom and control inducers evoked opposite-direction motion perception.
- Dynamic MAE was slightly stronger for phantom inducers compared to controls.
- MAEs were more contrast-modulated by control inducers and less by phantom inducers.
Conclusions:
- Low-level motion adaptation significantly contributes to MAEs in the gap region.
- Phantom perception further modulates the magnitude of motion adaptation, suggesting a combined effect.
